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Sampson becomes first Patriots player to sign football scholarship this year with ASU.

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ALBANY , Westover High School tight end Josh Sampson not only will play college football at home later this fall, there's also a good chance he'll see plenty of playing time.

Heck, he might even start.

Moments after Sampson signed his National Letter of Intent on Monday to play for Albany State, he began looking toward August when he will compete for the starting job left open by outgoing senior Matthew Magwood.

And being able to jump right into the mix for the Rams certainly was a factor in his decision.

"It wasn't one of my main priorities, but it was one of the reasons I'm going," said Sampson, who was the first Patriots football player this year to sign with a school after turning down an offer from Georgia Southern.Sampson also became Albany State's 13th signee since the signing period began Wednesday.

Once Sampson made up his mind, the planning for Monday's ceremony began.

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"We are very glad, very excited to have Josh Sampson join the family at Albany State,"said Chunn, who was head coach at Monroe when Super Bowl XXXIX MVP Deion Branch played there.

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There was one striking similarity between the Westover and Albany State jerseys that were present at Sampson's signing , both of them donned the No. 80, which Sampson will wear as a Ram.

"That's the number I wore at Westover, and that's my favorite number because that's what (current New York Giant) Jeremy Shockey wore.He's my idol," Sampson said of the former Miami Hurricane player who won a national title in 2001."He's one of the premier tight ends.I like him because he can block as well as catch."

Sampson unofficially made 10 catches for 150 yards last season , including one for a touchdown against Worth County.But come fall, Rams head coach Mike White said Sampson could also be used as a receiver.

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"Pass catching comes natural to me," said Sampson, who was a first-team all-region and Herald All-Metro selection."It's like a second nature."

And Sampson should fit right in on a team looking to build on a receiving corps that will return last year's leader, junior Joshua Johnson, who caught 24 passes for 322 total yards.

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Academically, Sampson ranked in the top 10 percent of his Westover class.